Shay Barry will have his first ride in the Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup when he partners Boss Doyle for trainer Mouse Morris at Newbury on Saturday week.

Tony McCoy was on board when the six-year-old finished a good second behind Strath Royal in the Charlie Hall Chase at Wetherby last month.

Barry said: "This will be my first ride at Newbury and I'm looking forward to my first English success. The nearest I got to a win was when I was second for Pat Flynn on Aries Girl in a Cheltenham bumper three years ago.

"I have never ridden Boss Doyle in a race but I have ridden him at home and I'm hopeful of a big pay day."

Talking of big pay days, Paddy Power Bookmaker is increasing its sponsorship at Leopardstown on December 27th from £105,000 to £180,000. In addition, the bookmaker has increased the purse for the country's richest National Hunt race, the Paddy Power Chase, from £105,000 to £117,000. Also, any trainer saddling the winner of the Paddy Power Chase and two other winners on the same day's card will receive a £50,000 cash bonus.

Dream Well was nominated the Horse of the Year at last night's prestigious Cartier Racing Awards in London.

Trained in France by Pascal Bary for the Niarchos family, the son of Sadler's Wells earned his accolade by winning both the French and Irish Derbys in June.

"To win one Derby is a tremendous achievement but to win two is thoroughly remarkable and stamps Dream Well a worthy victor," explained Harry Herbert, Cartier's racing consultant.

Racing Awards 1998: Two-Year-Old Colt: Aljabr; Two-Year-Old Filly: Bint Allayl; Three-Year-Old Colt: Dream Well; Three-Year-Old Filly: Cape Verdi; Stayer: Kayf Tara; Sprinter: Tamarisk; Older Horse: Swain; Horse of the Year: Dream Well; Daily Telegraph Award of Merit: The Head Family.